AOL Already Spending ~$45 Million Per Year On New Patch Employeeshttp://www.businessinsider.com/aol-already-spending-45-million-on-new-patch-employees-2010-9/comments
en-usWed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 -0500Tue, 03 Mar 2015 15:01:49 -0500Nicholas Carlsonhttp://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c803d3e7f8b9ac452090800bickleThu, 02 Sep 2010 20:11:42 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c803d3e7f8b9ac452090800
I just stumbled across the patch for my area and its pretty good. Ill take a look at it every now and then.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c80377d7f8b9a1268820c00NoWayThu, 02 Sep 2010 19:47:09 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c80377d7f8b9a1268820c00
Joining the chorus that the $100,000 number is ridiculously high. Put it at half that, tops. Even if it is the lower figure, how does this possibly pencil out as anything that can make any money? Digital advertising brings in dimes and nickels. Something doesn't add up here.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c801b377f8b9a0e63fa0700AdiosThu, 02 Sep 2010 17:46:31 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c801b377f8b9a0e63fa0700
From what I've heard from local journalists up the east coast is the full-time Patch gigs (overseeing multiple sites and freelancers) pay roughly 40k. Factoring in benefits that's about 60k per head. Not a bad gig if you're in Nashua, NH. But those 900 hires aren't even close to full-time. The bulk are writers through SEED and contract editors.
Oh and I wonder the same thing the guy above asked. How does TA get away with that?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c8013af7f8b9ace644a0700QuestionThu, 02 Sep 2010 17:14:22 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c8013af7f8b9ace644a0700
Can someone please explain why no one has openly questioned Tim's motives when it come to Patch?
He is a long time investor in Patch, this all does not seem right.
Though he was hired to save AOL, his first priority on the job was to use AOL funds to buy Patch.
I am not questioning his tactics, though I think there would be a strong case to do so, I am questioning how a new CEO of a company is allowed to use company funds to buy a another company he has personally invested in???
Now it seems he is using AOL dollars to build up Patch. So again, instead of bringing in more investors or using his own money to build Patch, he is using AOL shareholder money.
AOL's earning are down to absolute historic lows. AOL is a dying, but somehow it is ok to use AOL shareholder cash to invest in Tim's personal pet project?
Do we have this right? Nicholas can you please explain if this is all incorrect? Shouldnt the FEC be investigating this? Should Board members who have put their reputation on the line be pissed? Shouldnt shareholders who invest in the AOL brand be upset. All this money should not be going to Tim's coffers, isnt he already a billionaire. It looks like Tim is simply using the system for his own gain.
Is this wrong?http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c7ff8457f8b9a674a790000Michael GarofaloThu, 02 Sep 2010 15:17:25 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c7ff8457f8b9a674a790000
That's encouraging. I'm wondering why Patch skipped Staten Island. They're in many areas around Staten Island, but nothing on the borough itself. I like the idea of Patch. I'm not sure how well it's going to work out though.
They have a classified section and email newsletters, so that's good for encouraging repeat traffic... but I'm not sure if there's enough discussion going on. It's tricky making a website grow from something alien to a core part of the community.
At it's core, the idea of so many journalists getting hired is amazing. Free press is essential to American life. But when I visit Patch sites, it seems a bit generic. I think it is a valid to question the staying power of Patch. AOL could run out of money and simply turn it off. What happens to the Patch websites then?
If it's such a great idea, why couldn't I just start a news website? I tried an Arts & Entertainment website on Staten Island once. People looked at me like I was on another planet. Also, it seemed taboo to go up against the established media. That was a while ago, and people are more tech savvy, but will this idea work in every town?
Let's say Patch calls me up. They say, "Hey Mike, come on down for an interview." We yap about my background and then they hire me. So OK, then I do a great job and create an extremely popular Patch... but what if the majority of Patch websites fail?
I looked at the job listings for Patch.com. It's insane. It's A LOT of people... A LOT! It seriously makes me wonder... is this a great idea or an insane idea?!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c7ff1f57f8b9a2a48330700Patch FanThu, 02 Sep 2010 14:50:28 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c7ff1f57f8b9a2a48330700
We have patch in our town, and it's getting a lot of use and traffic - we are on it several times a week - - great idea that someone finally followed through on!
GO AOL!!!!http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c7fdc887f8b9a785ce70700Michael GarofaloThu, 02 Sep 2010 13:19:04 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c7fdc887f8b9a785ce70700
Heh, Patch didn't hire me yet, so quiet... you'll ruin it! :)
$100,000 seems high to me too, as these are work from home gigs. A scanner, a laptop and a camera is not a huge cost. Plus, I wouldn't need these things.
I think the problem with Patch is that they're dividing locations into tiny areas. Does Woodbridge and Metuchen really need to be separate? Well, if you're building a strong community website, yes. So, that's the trick. How to focus on building up a website for such a specific community? It's tough.
So, if their target city size is like 50,000 people... and the average CPM for advertisement is like $5... everyone in the area would have to load the page once to make $250 a day. That's pretty bad... isn't it? That would barely cover the costs.
Wow... perhaps it's good that they didn't call me back. HA HA! Jumping from one layoff to another isn't exactly my career goal.http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c7fd90f7f8b9a52598c0400ljlThu, 02 Sep 2010 13:04:15 -0400http://www.businessinsider.com/c/4c7fd90f7f8b9a52598c0400
If Seed is paying $10 to $50 an article, for the most part, I'm hesitant to believe the pay for PATCH is anywhere near $100,000 per employee.